Mechanical drive system



July 20, 1937. w, VAN UILDER 2,087,709

' MECHANICAL DRIVE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' MINIMUM... W

Jul 20; 1937. w AN D R 2,087,709

MECHANICAL DRIVE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 20, 1937. w. VAN GUILDER MECHANICAL DRIVE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES MECHANICAL DRIVE SYSTEM ration of Illinois Application February 3, 1936, Serial No. 62,164

7 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to mechanical drives and relates more particularly to apparatus for spinning an apparatus for making random indications and selections and for stopping it in perfect register in one of a number of positions, which one position is to be selected at random by the operation of the apparatus itself.

My present invention contemplates the provision of a dog which is adapted to engage a series of notches and which is spring actuated and centrifugally controlled to select one of said notches at random and then to firmly and accurately seat itself therein. The invention contemplates also that the dog shall be actuated by a centrifugal system of Weights carried by the spinning selector apparatus itself, that the dog normally shall be held seated in a notch by a springthat it shall be disengaged therefrom by direct action of the driving power that spins the selector, that the dog shall again engage a notch only after the spinning selector decelerates to a low speed and that it shall be centrifugally controlled to snap suddenly into engagement with the notches and seat itself firmly in one of said notches to accurately register the selector for purposes of indicating its selection.

It is contemplated further that the points of fastening of the spring for actuating the weights shall be so located with respect to the directions of motion of said weight as to produce a large change in the mechanical advantage of said spring as a result of the movement of said weights so that the dog executes a snap motion into engagement with the notches. t is further contemplated that as the dog moves into engagement with the notch, the force available to oppose the centrifugal force of the dog shall increase to many times the centrifugal force required to hold it in the position it occupies when the operating springs are fully extended and also many times the centrifugal force required to hold it in the position which it occupies when the dogs have moved as far as possible under the action of the centrifugal force which controls them.

My present invention further contemplates the use of my improved centrifugal registering mechanism with a conventional over-running clutch in an improved spinning mechanism for giving random indications.

The primary object of my present invention is the provision of an improved, centrifugally controlled registering mechanism.

A further object consists in the provision of anism which will be described later.

an improved and simple apparatus for giving random indications and for making random selec tions.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In order'better to acquaint those skilled in the art with the teachings and practice of the present invention, 1 now shall describe certain specific embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the preferred embodiment of my present invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking downward in Figure 1 as indicated therein by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 1 but showing the parts in another operated position.

Figure 5 is a detailed section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking toward the right in Figure 2 as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is another elevational View of the preferred embodiment of my invention and is taken from the opposite side of the apparatus from the view in Figure 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams serving to illustrate the operation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral if] indicates generally a wheel or rotatable member carried on a hub H which is adapted to turn freely about a shaft #2 subject only to restraints imposed by the driving mech- This wheel [0 is adapted to be rotated or spun by the driving mechanism in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. Fixed to the shaft I2 is a disc 55 carrying a series of uniform notches it about its periphery. This disc l5 is securely fastened to the shaft [2 so as to be nonrotatable thereon. The cylindrical surface of the wheel it carries a design M, or a series of legends or numbers or the like which may be read by an operator or observer for determining the random selection which the wheel, makes in operating in the manner presently to be described. Cooperating with the design M is an index or pointer 58. The index i8 is stationary but is located close to the design it. The characters of the design it are spaced'in a manner to correspond to the notches of the disc l5 which serves to register the wheel so that the wheel stops with which serves as a dog for engagement with the notches it of the member I5. A tie-bar 23 links the two similar weights |9 and 2|] together so that they move together and always occupy symmetrical positions with respect to the axis of the wheel II]. This arrangement permits the weights i9 and 20 to balance each other against the force of gravity and to keep the wheel ID as a whole balanced with respect to its axis of rotation. Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, the weight 19 carries a projection 25 and the weight 25 carries a similar projection 26 which serves as a stop which engages the inner side of the rim 21 of the wheel ill in the manner shown in Figure 4 to limit the motion of the weights about their respective pivots.

Each of the weights l9 and 25 is provided with a spring toggle which may be described best with reference to Figure 3 showing an enlarged detail of the toggle for the weight 25. A toggle arm 35 is pivoted at one of its ends near the rim 2'! of the wheel It by means of a clip 32. The toggle arm 35 is provided with a shoulder 35 and carries a spring 35 and a washer 34. The outer end of the arm 30 is guided in a recess in the end of the weight 25. The spring 36 presses the washer 34 against the curved end of the weight 20. As the weight 20 turns about its pivot,

the washer 34 slides over this curved surface;

The toggle of the weight H! is similar. The two springs 35 and 35 of these toggles continually urge the dog 2| into engagement with the notches 16. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, when the dog 2| is in engagement with one'of the notches I5, the springs 35 and 36 act in directions having angles of about 35 degrees from the direction in which the ends of the weights 9 and 2G engaging the springs travel as those weights rotate about their pivots. Similarly,it can be seen from Figure 4 that when the weights l9 and 20 are thrown out against the rim 2'! of the wheel the springs 35 and 36 act in directions having angles of more than 80 degrees from the direction in which the weights l9 and 20 move in rotating. about their pivots. For this reason the springs 35 and 36 are more effective for rotating and moving the weights l9 and 20 and for operating the dog when the dog is engaging one of the notches than when the dog is not in engagement with the notched member I5. 7

When the wheel I is stationary, the springs 35 and 35 hold the weights I9 and 2B in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 so that the dog 2| encelerate the wheel ill until the centrifugal force becomes too small to overcome the action of the springs 35 and 36 which urge the weights l9 and 20 towards the center of the wheel l0. As was radii of the plate or disc 4|.

previously pointed out, the effect of the springs on the weights l9 and 20 and the rotative effort which they exert thereon, is comparatively small when the weights l9 and 20 are thrown out against the rim of the wheel ll]. Therefore, the wheel will decelerate to a comparatively low speed before the weights i9 and 20 will move in to engage the dog 2| with the notched wheel l5. As soon as they begin to move in. the springs 35- and 36 assume a more advantageous angle with respect to the direction of motion so that the difference between the rotative eifects of the springs and the centrifugal force increases in favor of the spring. .Consequently the weights i9 and 28 move in with a snap action and the dog 2| comes sharply into engagement with the notched member 5 and bears firmly thereagainst. The dog 2| then clicks over the notches l6 and in so doing rapidly decelerates the wheel until it stops. Because the dog 2| is sharply pointed and because the projections between the notches it are also sharply pointed the dog 2| cannot easily restagainst one of the projections H. Therefore, it slips into register with one of the notches l5 and the springs 35 and 36 seat it firmly therein. As a result the wheel comes to a stop with the dog 2| accurately seated in one of the notches of E6 to register the wheel.

It is thus seen that my improved mechanism serves to stop the wheel and accurately to register'it in a position corresponding to one of the notches l6.

Referring to Figures 2, 5, and 6 of the drawings,

the reference numeral 45 indicates generally an over-running clutch. The over-running clutch includes a hollow housing 66 of die-cast metal or the like and has a hardened steel cup l! therein on the shaft l2 and carries the hub ll of the wheel |D freely thereon. A pin 43 securely fastened in the plate 4| extends through a clearance hole in the web of the wheel Hi and engages a hole in the center of the tie bar 23. This hole 'is midway between the points at which the tie bar is fastened to the pivoted weights l9 and 20. As has already been described, the pivots which support the weights l9 and 2|] are equally spaced from the center of the shaft i2 and are on a line therethrough. Therefore when the weights l9 and 20 turn on their pivots, the center of the hole in the middleof the tie 23 describes an arc about the center of the shaft i2. Therefore the pin 33 which is carried about this same center by the member 55 will still permit the motion of the weights about their pivots as already described. This pin is the only connection for driving or spinning the wheel H9. The spinning or driving operation will be described presently.

The disc portion 4| has a pair of notches 5| and 52 disposed'diametrically opposite to each other and in which are located a pair of steel balls 53 and 54. A disc or cover 55 retains the balls 53 and 54 in their respective notches (see .Fig. 2).. The walls of each of the notches 5| and 52 are unsymmetrical with respect to any Thus in the notch 5| the wall 51 makes a small angle with a line tangent to the surface is at the point where it engages the ball 53, whereas the surface 58 of the same notch 5! makes a large angle, approximately a right angle, with the same tangent.

When the shell or housing 45 rotates with respect to the plate 4! the balls 53 and 54 will move under the action of friction in the notches 5| and 52 in the direction of the relative motion of the housing 45, and in so doing will bring the balls against one or the other of the unsymmetrical walls of the notches 5i and 52. Thus when the housing 45 rotates in a clock-wise direction with respect to the plate 44, the ball 53 for example will be carried against the surface 58 of the notch 55 and then will simultaneously engage the surface 58 and the surface 58 which move relative to each other. However because of the large angle between these two surfaces the ball will slide on one or the other. When the housing i5 is rotated in a counter-clock-wise direction with respect to the plate 4 l, the ball 53 for example will move into engagement with the surface 5'! of the notch 51 and consequently it will engage simultaneously both the surface 5'! and the surface 68 which converge at a comparatively small angle. This angle is less than the angle of friction of the steel surfaces. It is well known that the term angle of friction expresses a characteristic of two surfaces and its value depends upon the value of the co-eiificient of friction of those surfaces. Consequently, the ball 53 will jam between these two surfaces. Similarly the ball 54 will jam between the corresponding wall of its notch 52 and the cylindrical surface 48 of the housing. Consequently the housing 45 no longer can rotate counter-clock-wise with respect to the plate ll and it necessarily carries the plate 4| with it. Thus referring to Figures 2 and 6, when the housing 45 rotates in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Figure 6, it rotates the wheel If) therewith. The ilustrations of Figures 1 and 6 View wheel ID from opposite sides so that the wheel appears to rotate counter-clock-wise in Figure 1 (and therefore also in Figures 4 and 5) but it appears to rotate clock-wise in Figure 6.

Preferably I actuate my apparatus with a spring toggle snap mechanism illustrated in Figure 6 and which is more completely described in the copending application of Karl H. Sommermeyer, Serial No. 62,165, filed February 3,. 1936. The toggle mechanism comprises two levers of which an actuating lever 60 is one and the arm 49 of the over-running clutch mechanism already described is the other. It also includes a tension spring arrangement connected between these two levers and suitable stops for the levers. The actuating lever 60 rotates about a shaft 6| and is adapted to be operated manually by means of a hand lever 62. A cross-piece 63 is pivoted to the actuating lever 66 at a point and similarly a cross piece 66 is pivoted to the arm 49 of the over-running clutch at 66. Connected between the ends of these cross pieces 63 and 6 5, are a pair of tension springs 66 and 10. The assembly consisting of the cross-pieces 63 and 64 and the springs 69 and 10 are equivalent, so far as the toggle action and the operation of the toggle snap mechanism is concerned, to a single spring tensioned between points 65 and 66 respectively of the actuating lever 65 and the arm 89 of the clutch mechanism. In the present construction, the arrangement shown is employed merely to permit the line of action, which is on a straight line between the points 65 and 66 to cross the axis of the shaft [2 without having to will be explained presently, this is immaterial because it occurs only when the arm 69 has already moved in response to the actuation of the lever 60.

A pair of stops H and 72 are adapted to engage the arm 49 for limiting the arcuate travel or rotation thereof about the shaft it. In the position shown in Figure 6, the actuating lever 66 lies against the hub of the housing 46 which serves as one stop therefor. A fixed block 14 serves as the other stop for the lever 66. The operation of the snap mechanism may be described best in connection with the diagrams of Figures '7 and 8. In Figures 7 and 8, the solid lines represent the position of the lever 66 and. the arm 49 in the positions which they occupy in the illustration of Figure 6. figure 60-41 represents the position of the actuating lever 60 when it has been moved against the stop M. In that position the line of action between the points 65 and 66 has crossed the axis of the shaft l2 about which the arm 49 is adapted to rotate so that the springs tend to rotate the arm 49 in a clock-wise direction. as viewed in Figures 6 and '7. When the arm as In that same.

begins to rotate, the angle of action of the spring with respect to the arm 49 improves so that the rotative effort increases with the motion of the arm 49 at least during the initial motion thereof.

The arm 49, therefore, snaps down due to the action of the spring (rotates clock-wise) so that the arm 49 and the lever 66 assume the positions shown in Figure 8. It is to be observed that the line of action between the points 65 and 66 has not crossed the axis of the shaft 6!. Therefore, the springs still urge the lever 66 in the same direction as they did before. That is, they urge the lever 60 upwards to rotate it in a clock-wise direction about the shaft 6! as viewed in Figures 6, '7, and 8. Consequently when the handle 62 is released the lever 66 moves upward to occupy the position 66b shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. In so doing, it causes the line of action between the points 65 and 66 again to cross the axis of the shaft 12 (see line between the points 65b and 66 in Figure 8), this time bringing the line of action of the spring above the axis of the shaft [2 about which the arm t9is adapted to rotate. Consequently the spring now urges the arm 49 in a counter-clock-wise direction and the arm 49 again snaps from one extreme position of its travel to the other. This brings the mechanism back to the position shown in Figures 6 and 7.

When the operating handle 62 is manually depressed, causing the arm 69 of the over-running clutch to snap in the clock-wise direction in Figure 6, it also sets the wheel 66 into motion as follows: When the arm 49 snaps down the direction of rotation of the housing 36 is in such direction that it drives the member 56 therewith. This is in a counter-clock-wise direction as viewed in Figures 1, 4, and 5. The pin &3 drives against the tie bar 23. Thewheel l6, solely because of its own inertia resists rotation sothat the driving force exerted by the pin 43 on the tie bar 23 immediately moves the weights out to the position shown in Figure 4, after which the full force of the springs 69 and 10 are available for accelerating the wheel l0. As soon as in Figure 4. The weights l9 and 26 fly out immediately without causing the dog 2! to click against any of the other notches during the accelerating period.

When the arm 39 moving downward under force of the springs 69 and 10 reaches the extreme of its travel as determined by the stop 12, the housing 45 of the over-running clutch stops but the driven member 59 thereof continues to rotate with the wheel Hi and in so doing causes the over-running clutch mechanism a to release so that the wheel spins freely.

The wheel 19 subsequently comes to a stop and the dog re-engages the notchedwheel i5 to stop the wheel in register with a position corresponding to one of 'the notches It in the manner already described. The handle 62 may be released either before or after the wheel I0 comes to a stop. The release of the handle 62 causes the arm 49 to snap back to its upper position. In so doing it rotates thecup 46 of the overrunning clutch in the direction in which it fails to drive the member 58. Consequently, the release of the handle 62 has no effect on the Wheel 16.

It is thus seen that, I have provided a new and improved mechanical drive for spinning and then for stopping in register an indicating wheel or the like of the type described.

The improved driving and registering mechanism of my present invention advantageously may be employed for operating the random indicator for game apparatus and the like, such as, for example the apparatus shown and described in the copending application of Archie J. McMaster, Serial No. 64,235, filed February 17, 1936.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in. the art that the particular embodimentof my invention herein shown and described is by Way of illustration only and that the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations. I therefore do not wish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a wheel, a weight movable on said wheel so that the distance of its center of gravity from the center of the wheel may vary, means for con tinually urging said weight in a direction to bring its center of gravity closer to the center of the wheel, a relatively fixed notched member having a series of notches arranged in a circular patternv concentric with the axis of said wheel, a 'dog operated by said weight and adapted to be brought into engagement with at least one of said notches when said weight moves to reduce the distance of its center of gravity from the center of the wheel.

2. In a device of the character described, a wheel, a plurality of similar weights individually movable on said wheel so that the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel may vary, said weights being spaced on said wheel to balance the same, means connecting said weights together so that they operate together to keep the wheel balanced when they vary the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel, means ior'continuallyurging said weights in a direction to bring their centers of gravity closer to the center of the wheel, a relatively fixed notched member having a series of notches arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the axis of said wheel, a dog carried by oneof said weights and adapted to be brought into engagement with at least one of said notches when said weight moves to reduce the distance of its center of gravity from the center of the wheel;

3. In a device of the character described, a wheel, a plurality of similar weights individually movable on said wheel so that the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel may vary, said weights being spaced necting said weights together so that they operate together'to keep the wheel balanced when they vary the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel, means for continually urging said weights in a direction to bring their centers of gravity closer to the center of the wheel, a relatively fixed notched member having a series of notches arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the axis or" said wheel, a dog carried by one of said weights and adapted to be brought into engagement with at least one of said notches when said weight moves to reduce the distance of. its center of gravity from the center of the wheel, said means for urging said weights being adapted to exert greater components of force along the paths of travel of the centers of gravity of said weights when said dog engages said notches than when said weights are in such position that their separate centers of gravity are at their maximum distances from the center of said Wheel.

4. In a device of the character described, a

.wheel, a weight movable on said wheel 50 that the distance of its center of gravity from the center of the wheel may vary, means for continually urging said weight in a direction to bring itscenter of gravity closer to the center of the .wheel, a relatively fixed notched member having ing to disengage said dog from the notched wheel,

and so as to direct its full force in such a direction that said full force tends to rotate said wheel.

5. In a .device of the character described a wheel, a pair of weights pivoted on said wheel so that the distances oftheir separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel may vary, a

7 link connecting said Weights together so that they act together to keep the ,wheel balanced as they vary the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel, said link having a portion thereof which incident to the motion of said weights moves along a path which has a substantial component along an are about the center of the wheel, rotary driving means, torque transmitting means connected between .on said wheel to balance the same, means consaid rotary driving means and said point of said link to drive said link and said weights therewith said torque transmitting means being capable of transmitting torque to said link only for that direction of rotation of said driving means which forces said weights to increase the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel when the wheel is stationary, a relatively fixed notched member having a series of notches arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the axis of said wheel, a dog carried by one of said weights adapted to engage said notched member when said weights are at the minimum distance from the center of said wheel, and means for continually urging said weights towards the positions thereof in which said dog engages said notched member.

6. In a device of the character described, a wheel, a weight pivoted on said wheel so that the distance of its center of gravity from the center of the wheel may vary, means comprising a spring toggle for continually urging said weight in a direction to bring its center of gravity closer to the center of the wheel, said toggle being so arranged that as said weight turns on its pivot to bring its center of gravity closer to the center of the wheel, the ratio of the rate of change of the length of the spring to the rate of change of the distance of the center of gravity of the Weight from the center of the wheel increases, a relatively fixed notched member having a series of notches arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the axis of said wheel, a dog operated by said weight and adapted to be brought into engagement with at least one of said notches when said weight moves to reduce the distance of its center of gravity from the center of the wheel.

7. ha device of the character described, a

wheel, a pair of weights pivoted on said wheel so v1 'a link connecting said weights together so that they act together to keep the wheel balanced as they vary the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the wheel, said link having a portion thereof which incident to the motion of said Weights moves along a path which has a substantial component in the direction of an arc about the center of the wheel, a relatively fixed notched member having a series of notches arranged in a circular pattern concentric with the axis of said wheel a dog carried, by one of said weights adapted to engage said notched member when the centers of gravity of said weights are at the minimum distances from the center of said wheel, means for continually urging said weights towards the position in which the distances of the separate centers of gravity of the weights from the axis of said wheel are minimum,driving means comprising an over-running clutch which includes a driven member thereof and means connecting said driven member to said portion of said link, said overrunning clutch being arranged to drive said link and said weights therewith in such a direction that said Weights increase the distances of their separate centers of gravity from the center of the Wheel when the wheel is stationary, whereby said driving means is adapt- 1 WALTER VAN GUILDER, 

